Game apparatus



(No Model.)

M JOSEPH GAME APPARATUS.

Patented June 18, 188 9.

fur/6 M967 Josep Jay Witnesses.

cwLnhomMu. Wishiuglm v, c,

NTTED STATES i rricn.

PATENT GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,314, dated une 18, 1889. 7 Application filed January 26, l889. Serial No. 297,677. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, MYER JOSEPH, of Cam bridge, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Game Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to a game apparatus, which may be used with marbles or other missiles or projectiles, if preferred.

The apparatus comprises a number of movable spring-actuated receptacles, which may contain marbles or other prizes for successful shots, said receptacles being normally locked against movement by the springs by means of detents, which are controlled by movable targets in such manner that if one of the targets is hit the corresponding receptacle is released and is moved by its actuating-spring in such manner as to throw the prize con.- tained in it toward the point from which the missiles are sent. The prize-receptacles are shown as normally held in vertical position, and are open at the top to permit the prizes to be easily introduced, and when released they are swung around in a Vertical plane, and they have one side movable, so as to be thrown open by the momentum of the contents of the receptacles to permit the said contents to be thrown outward and forward.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a game apparatus embodying this invention; Fig 2, a plan View thereof ,Fig. 3, a vertical 'section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the prize-receptacles in side elevation; and Fig. 4, a vertical section on line 4 4, Fig. 2, showing one of the receptacles in vertical section.

, The operative parts are shown as connected with a front plate or frame-piece a, which supports one or more movable targets h, which it is the object of the player to hit by a marble or other projectile or missile. It is obvious that a single target only might be employed; but usually the apparatus will be provided with several, and the prizes corresponding to the different targets will'be of different value, so as to make it more desirable to hit somethan others. The said targets Z) are movable with relation to the frame a, being shown as connected with rods or stems b guided in suitable bearings in the part a, so that they will be moved endwise if the target is impelled toward'the part a by being struck by one of the missiles. Each of said targets controls the operation of a corresponding prize-receptacle 0, shown as a box pivoted at 0 (see Figs. 2 and 3) in suitable bearings or lugs a supported on the frame a, and said receptacles are acted upon by springs (1, shown as rubber bands, which tend to turn the said boxes on their pivots c from their normal vertical position below the pivots to the position above the pivots, one of the said boxes being shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 as having been thrown around byits spring, while the othersare shown in their normal position.

The boxes'or receptacles are open at the top, as will be readily understood from Fig. 4, so that the prizes may be readily dropped into them, and when marbles snapped from the fingers are used as the projectiles in playing the game the prizes will usually be marbles, as shown in Fig. 4, there being different numbers placed in the different boxes when it is desired to give different values to the several prizes.

The side 0 of the box toward the rear is pivoted near the top of the box, as shown at' force until the movement of the box stops,

when the prizes will by their momentum throw the movable side 0 forward, as shown, and will be discharged toward the point' from which the missile was directed at the target.

The receptacles are retained in their normal condition with the springs dstrained until released by the striking of the corresponding targets by means of detents f, pivoted at f on lugs or bearings connected with the frame a, and provided with shoulders that engage a pin or projection g, fastened upon the free end of the movable side 0 of the box, so that the engagement of the detent f with the pin g not only retains the box in its normal vertical position, but also retains the movable side piece a closed in, so as to make a complete pocket or receptacle for the prize.

The detent f is in position to be engaged by ICC) the stem 71 0i the target I), so that the inward movement of the target toward the frame a, which occurs when it is struck will cause the corresponding dctent to be released and the corresponding prize-receptacle to be thrown around by its spring (I, so as to throw the prize toward the person who has hit the target. i

In using the apparatus with marbles the frame-piece a: will be set upon the ground, with the receptacles c all held in their normal position by the detents f, and the prizes placed in said receptacles resting on the bottom thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Then the player will shoot a marble toward the plate a, and if it fails to hit one of the targets I) the prize-recept-acles will not be released and the player will commonly forfeit the marble shot. If, however, the marble hits one of the targets, the said target will be moved against the corresponding dctcnt, can sing it to disengage the corresponding pin which releases the box, and the latter then thrown around and delivers its contents to the player who hashitthe target. If desired, the board (L might be provided with openings between the targets, as indicated in dotted lines at a, Fig. 1, so that the projectiles that fail to hit the target will pass through and be hind the frame-piece a.

It is obvious that the apparatus might be used for other games and the targetsoperated by projectiles shot from a gun or pistol, if preferred.

I claim- 1.. The combination of arecept-acle mounted upon a pivot and movable about the same with a spring tending to turn the said receptacle about its pivot, and a detent that normally holds the said receptacle and prevents it from moving under the action of its spring, and a target co-opcrating with said detent as described, whereby when the target is struck the receptacle is released and turned suddenly about its pivot by the spring to dis charge the contents of the, receptacle, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a pivoted syn-ingpressed receptacle provided with a side or cover pivoted upon said receptacle, and a detent which engages with said pivoted cover,

and a movable target cooperating with said defent, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have si gncd m y name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MYEP JOSEPH.

\Vitnesscs:

- Jos. II L'IvERMouE,

M. E. HILL. 

